As Christian parents, should we smack our children?

As the NSPCC joins calls for a ban on smacking children in England, Hannah Wickens, who grew up with the Dr James Dobson school of discipline, shares her view after becoming a parent.

With the recent resurgence of the decade-long dispute over banning smacking, my own thoughts on corporal punishment within the home have been recapitulated. Recently doctors reignited this discussion with concerns of long-term physical and mental damage being inflicted on children, as documented on the BBC website.

Years ago, I was a fully-fledged convert to smacking, even to the extent that aged 14 I joined my mother for a radio program to talk of the virtues of smacking, as a recipient of such punishment. At the time, I was in the throes of compliant adolescent, eager to please and without thoughts beyond the narrative fed to me by my parents.